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Entries in Sony (15)

Monday
14Sep2009

Trailer for Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' debuts

Michael Jackson's This Is It

The trailer for Sony's upcoming Michael Jackson documentary "This Is It" has finally hit the Web, and you can check it out after the jump. The Kenny Ortega-directed film will hit theaters Oct. 28, 2009 for a limited two-week run.

The film will include scenes drawn from hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage captured in high definition as Jackson geared up for his concert series in London. The majority of the film's footage was shot in June 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and The Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

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Saturday
22Aug2009

Saturday film news web roundup: Billy Bob Thornton to star in boxing film?; Sony moves up 'This Is It'

Billy Bob Thornton

Here are some short but interesting film news that appeared in the trades and on the Web today:

• Billy Bob Thornton is in talks to star in "Pound for Pound," a boxing flick based on F.X. Toole's novel. Writing and directing the project is Ron Shelton. The film focuses on two men whose lives intersect. Thornton would be playing a retired, widowed boxer who slips into depression after his grandson is killed in an accident. The other one is a young Latino fighter struggling with life as well.

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Monday
17Aug2009

James Vanderbilt to write 'Spider-Man 5 & 6'

"Spider-Man" is entering "Saw" territory as Sony is planning to develop at least a fifth and sixth film in the popular series that kicked of with Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" in 2002. That's right, Spidey will continue to protect the neighborhood on the big-screen for who knows how long.

From Variety comes the news that James Vanderbilt is set to write "Spider-Man 5" and "Spider-Man 6." Vanderbilt started writing the upcoming "Spider-Man 4," which was rewritten by David Lindsay-Abaire and then Gary Ross. That film is set for release in May 2011.

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Sunday
16Aug2009

Oh No! Wayans to develop 'White Chicks' sequel

White Chicks

The Wayans brothers must be desperate. Maybe they just need some cash. Or maybe they just have too much time on their hands. Heck, maybe they just want to make me suffer. Whatever the reason, the guys are currently gearing up to develop a sequel to "White Chicks" for Sony.

That is no joke. The Hollywood Reporter says Keenen Ivory Wayans is set to direct "White Chicks 2," with Marlon and Shawn Wayans back for the lead roles. In case you missed "Chicks," the film followed two FBI agents dressing up as white girls.

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Monday
10Aug2009

Michael Jackson movie 'This is It' to open Oct. 30

Michael Jackson

Fans will be able to see the late Michael Jackson take the stage one more time in "This Is It," a film Sony Pictures will start releasing in theaters worldwide starting Oct. 30, 2009.

The film will include scenes drawn from hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage captured in high definition as Jackson geared up for his concert series in London. Select sequences in the flick will be in 3D.

The majority of the film's footage was shot in June 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and The Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

"The world will see what our team was so fortunate to experience, which was the full commitment, passion and creativity that Michael put into this project," said Kenny Ortega, director of the "This Is It" concert.

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Monday
20Jul2009

This and that in film news: Morgan Freeman to star in Red; Sony's bid for Michael Jackson footage

Here are some brief film news you shouldn't miss on July 20, 2009:

• The great Morgan Freeman is in negotiations to join Bruce Willis in "Red," a thriller based on the WildStorm/DC Comic for Summit Entertainment. Erich Hoeber and Jon Hoeber are in charge of the script, which follows a retired black-ops CIA agent whose peaceful life takes a turn when an assassin shows up at his door to kill him. (Variety)

• Paco Ahlgren's sci-fi novel "Discipline" will be heading to the big screen, with David Permut and Steve Lee Jones producing the project. The story, according to Variety, follows "a man's psychological battle with an enemy he cannot see." Permut's producing credits include "Youth in Revolt." Jones is wrapping the documentary "Kevorkian."

• All things Michael Jackson are certainly in high demand these days, and the Hollywood Reporter says Sony is pursuing the distribution rights to a flick based on the late artist's recent rehearsal footage by bidding $50 million. Nothing's confirmed at this stage, but studios including Paramount, Universal, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. recently caught a glimpse at some of the footage.

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Friday
10Jul2009

So what's up with Brad Pitt's 'Moneyball'?

Brad Pitt

Just a couple of weeks ago we learned Columbia pulled the plug on Steven Soderbergh's sports drama "Moneyball" and put it into turnaround, but according to new reports, the studio is still on board.

So what's actually going on with this thing? Will we ever get to see it? According to Variety, yes, we will, but not from Soderbergh, whose rewrite of Steven Zaillian's script failed to impress studio head Amy Pascal.

Pascal's move to halt the project after disliking Soderbergh's vision came as an unexpected move, particularly because the film was all ready to shoot with Brad Pitt in the lead. Despite Soderbergh's exit, Pitt is apparently still attached.

Aaron Sorkin ("Charlie Wilson's War") has now been brought on-board to rewrite the script. The film is based on Michael Lewis' book "Moneyball: The Art of Winning An Unfair Game."

The central story follows Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, who used sophisticated computer analysis system to piece together a team that regularly contended for the World Series.

Thursday
28May2009

Daily news dose: 'Tintin' gets release date; 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' gets remade

Here's your daily dose of film news for May 29, 2009:

• Chevy Chase has joined the cast of Steve Pink's upcoming comedy "Hot Tub Time Machine," about a group of adults who visit a hot tub they once used and realize it can transport them back in time, to their younger selves. Chase is set to play a repairman, says the Hollywood Reporter. John Cusack, Rob Corddry and Craig Robinson co-star.

• Paramount and Sony just announced Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" will open in theaters Dec. 23, 2011. The film will also be released in 3D. Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook star in the motion capture film based on the books by Herge. (Variety)

• Michelle Morgan is set to write 20th Century Fox's remake of the 1985 comedy "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," which starred Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker. The original flick was directed by Alan Metter and follows two girls going nuts over a dance who titled "Dance TV." (Variety)

• Paul Verhoeven ("Black Book") is gearing up to direct "The Surrogate," a thriller based on the book by Kathryn Mackel. The story follows a couple who discovers the surrogate they hired to carry their baby is completely nuts. Roderick Taylor and Bruce Taylor wrote a first draft. This film is not to be confused with the Bruce Willis vehicle "Surrogates." (THR)

Tuesday
07Apr2009

Daily news dose: Larry Charles to direct 'Discontent;' Sony to adapt 'Shadow of the Colossus'

Here's your daily dose of film news for April 8, 2009:

• Larry Charles, who directed the hilarious "Borat" and "Religulous," is in talks to helm "Winter's Discontent," according to Variety. The film follows a widower who moves into a retirement home to - guess what - get laid. Charles most recently directed Sacha Baron Cohen's upcoming comedy "Brüno."

• And another video game will move to the big screen. This time, Sony will adapt "Shadow of the Colossus," with Justin Marks ("Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li") on-board to write the screenplay. The plot of the game follows a man who must fight his way through a wasteland battling 16 creatures. (Variety)

• Believe it or not, but Al Pacino is getting ready to play Napoleon in the big-screen adaptation of Staton Rabin's children's book "Betsy and the Emperor." John Curran, whose credits include the very interesting "We Don't Live Here Anymore" and decent enough "The Painted Veil," will likely direct the project. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Alex O'Loughlin ("August Rush," "Moonlight," "The Shield") has joined Jennifer Lopez in Alan Poul's "Plan B," about a women who meets her dream boy on the same day she's going through artificial insemination. Kate Angelo wrote the script, according to Variety.

Wednesday
17Dec2008

Adam Shankman does musical and 'Sinbad'

Adam Shankman is set to direct a new musical and a new take on the story of Sinbad, according to Variety.

"Bob the Musical," which he helms for Walt Disney, follows a man who starts hearing the "inner song" of people's hearts after he's struck on the head.

At Sony, the director is developing a reimagining of the "Sinbad" tale, which follows Sinbad and his crew as they head out to find the lamp of Aladdin.

Shankman directed last year's "Hairspray," and he said he would reteam with composer Marc Shaiman on "Bob." As far as "Sinbad" is concerned, he told Variety it will "really stretch my imagination as far as I can take it."

Shankman's latest directorial effort, "Bedtime Stories," is due in theaters Dec. 25, 2009. He's also working on "Hairspray 2."

You may also know him from flicks such as "The Wedding Planner," "Bringing Down the House" and "The Pacifier."